David Gough, ODAR  Campaigner And Fellow BMW Rider Killed In Accident

News has come in that David Gough, founder of and tireless campaigner for ODAR was tragically killed while riding his motorcycle in Sydney in the weekend. The accident is well reported  - click here to read an article from the Sydney Morning Herald.

David was a huge campaigner for organ donations - his daughter was killed in a road accident in 2009 and her donations saved three other lives. It is terribly ironic (if the reports are true) that such were his injuries none of his organs were able to be used for donation...

But his message does live on.

Even if you have your licence endorsed as a donor your family still needs to give consent - check out Donatelife and Australian Organ Donation Register

Ride In Peace, David

Dunn's Swamp Camping Weekend

Picture credit: John Rayner

We are an eclectic bunch - in our club there are engineers, limo drivers, IT specialists, pilots, couriers... and amongst them all are some very good photographers:

Photo Credit: Ian Berry. Location Dunn's Swamp

Autumn Leaf Rally

Picture credit: davorallyfan (ADVrider)

Upcoming Rides & Rallies:

Loaded Dog Rally

Friday 11th May to Sunday 13th May

Pictures please. Dave - I know you were there!

Mudgee Weekend

(Newcastle Region)

Saturday 12th to Sunday 13th May

Anyone like to send the Webmaster some pictures of the Mudgee Weekend?

Elspeth Beard

One of the first women to travel around the world on a motorcycle was Elspeth Beard and the bike she chose was a used 1974 R 60/6 for which she paid £900 in 1980 - not a small amount at the time, especially for a machine that already had 30,000 km on the clock...

Check out this article Air-Head Around The World

Motorcycle Accident Rehabilitation Initiative (MARI) at St Vincent's Hospital, Darlinghurst

"Riders For Riders"

MARI began in May 2007 withz a  $30,000 donation from a couple of veteran riders who’d never had an accident in 40 years and wanted to pay back. Funds raised amongst fellow-riders by the sale of their retrospective saga Highlights of the Road, were accepted by their local hospital. A special purpose trust fund was set up for  ‘providing rehabilitation services to those injured in motorcycle accidents presenting at St Vincent’s Hospital Emergency Department and to fund efforts to collect and report on patient outcome data for those treated.’ Read more here

UPDATE: Proceeds of Far Cairn Rallies 2008 & 9 financed a hospital research document, which attracted $400,000 funding from the Motor Accident Authority (MAA) NSW for a trial project based on a modified MARI model.  Conducted in St George, Liverpool and Westmead as well as in St Vincent’s Hospital, the two-year study is in the process of identifying ALL injured road users including pedestrians. The two-year study is known as ROARI (Road Accident Rehabilitation Initiative)

Email the Webmaster if you have a great picture, video or link preferably about BMW motorcycles that you would like to share

Useful and Interesting Link(s) of the week:

Barber Vintage Motorsports Museum - I've died and this is heaven (click on the motorcycle carousel)

Airhead Instrument Info - "Motometer Instruments for the BMW R80GS motorcycle"

Pivot Pegs Lowering Instuctions - for the taller riders amongst us, gives about a 1/2" more legroom

BMW Parts Catalogue - cars AND bikes

A BMW riders club in Washington State, USA - motto: "No Rules, Just Ride"

Occasionally there comes along something that epitomises, even transcends the world of motorcycling, like the BMW MOTORRAD from Giorgio Oppici, below. Here is another video, but for this one you might need a box of tissues...

BMW MOTORRAD from Giorgio Oppici on Vimeo

Rider Risk Safety Video series, sponsored by the Motorcycle Council of NSW - well worth a watch for new and experienced riders alike:

Picture(s) of the week:

Never too young to start...

Morro, a member of the BMW TC of NSW sent an email with a link, and quoting from this link:

"Marianne Weber, a journalist from Belgium, tested the R68 for the French magazine Motorcycle (issue 81/August 18, 1952) and achieved a top speed of more than 160 km/hr and gave the proof that the R68 was a real 100-mph racing-bike. This photo was made by R.G. Everts in April 1952. Marianne Weber later achieved 162.895 mph (101.24 mph) in 1954".